Comparison of community structures between particle-associated and free-living prokaryotes in tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean surface waters

The subtropical and tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean are less productive than other oceanic regions. Although particle association should be an important strategy for heterotrophic prokaryotes to survive in such environments, we have little information on particle-associated (PA) prokaryotes in these regions. The specific aim of this study was to determine bacterial and archaeal community structures in the PA assemblage in comparison to the free-living (FL) assemblage in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre, and an eastern equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean. Community profiles and phylogenetic identities were obtained by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, 454-pyrosequencing, and cloning followed by Sanger sequencing of 16Sr RNA gene amplicons. The distribution patterns of some abundant groups in three regions and two lifestyles (PA and FL) are shown in this study. Also, the PA community structures of bacteria differed from the FL ones and exhibited higher diversity than the FL ones, while the archaeal community structures did not show significant differences between PA and FL assemblages. We found that specific phylotypes of Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria were abundant in PA bacterial assemblages, suggesting that they prefer to attach and consume particulate organic matter. In summary, the surface seawater PA assemblages represent very different bacterial and archaeal community structures between three different oceanic regions, each of which had distinct PA and FL community structures. These results imply that environmental factors determine microbial community structures.     

Performance evaluation of a ground-source heat pump system utilizing a flowing well and estimation of suitable areas for its installation in Aizu Basin,Japan

Development of a ground-source heat pump (GSHP) system with higher efficiency, and evaluation of its operating performance, is essential to expand the growth of GSHP systems in Japan. A closed-loop GSHP system was constructed utilizing a flowing (artesian) well as a ground heat exchanger (GHE). The system was demonstrated for space-heating and space-cooling of a room (area 126.7 m²) in an office building. The average coefficient of performance was found to be 4.5 for space-heating and 8.1 for space-cooling. The maximum heat exchange rate was 70.8 W/m for space-heating and 57.6 W/m for space-cooling. From these results, it was determined that a GSHP system with a flowing well as a GHE can result in higher performance. With this kind of highly efficient system, energy saving and cost reduction can be expected. In order to assess appropriate locations for the installation of similar kinds of GSHP systems in Aizu Basin, a suitability map showing the distribution of groundwater up-flowing areas was prepared based on the results of a regional-scale three-dimensional analytical model. Groundwater up-flowing areas are considered to be suitable because the flowing well can be constructed at these areas. Performance evaluation of the GSHP system utilizing the flowing well, in conjunction with the prepared suitability map for its installation, can assist in the promotion of GSHP systems in Japan.     

Timing of Himalayan ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism: sinking rate and subduction angle of the Indian continental crust beneath Asia

Coesite relics were discovered as inclusions in clinopyroxene in eclogite and as inclusions in zircon in felsic and pelitic gneisses from Higher Himalayan Crystalline rocks in the upper Kaghan Valley, north‐west Himalaya. The metamorphic peak conditions of the coesite‐bearing eclogites are estimated to be 27–32 kbar and 700–770 °C, using garnet–pyroxene–phengite geobarometry and garnet–pyroxene geothermometry, respectively. Cathodoluminescence (CL) and backscattered electron (BSE) imaging distinguished three different domains in zircon: inner detrital core, widely spaced euhedral oscillatory zones, and thin, broadly zoned outermost rims. Each zircon domain contains a characteristic suite of micrometre‐sized mineral inclusions which were identified by in situ laser Raman microspectroscopy. Core and mantle domains contain quartz, apatite, plagioclase, muscovite and rutile. In contrast, the rim domains contain coesite and minor muscovite. Quartz inclusions were identified in all coesite‐bearing zircon grains, but not coexisting with coesite in the same growth domain (rim domain). ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U zircon ages reveal that the quartz‐bearing mantle domains and the coesite‐bearing rim were formed at c. 50 Ma and 46.2 ± 0.7 Ma, respectively. These facts demonstrate that the continental materials were buried to 100 km within 7–9 Myr after initiation of the India–Asia collision (palaeomagnetic data from the Indian oceanic floor supports an initial India‐Asia contact at 55–53 Ma). Combination of the sinking rate of 1.1–1.4 cm year^?1 with Indian plate velocity of 4.5 cm year^?1 suggests that the Indian continent subducted to about 100 km depth at an average subduction angle of 14–19°.     

In situ X-ray observations of the decomposition of brucite and the graphite–diamond conversion in aqueous fluid at high pressure and temperature

 An experimental technique to make real-time observations at high pressure and temperature of the diamond-forming process in candidate material of mantle fluids as a catalyst has been established for the first time. In situ X-ray diffraction experiments using synchrotron radiation have been performed upon a mixture of brucite [Mg(OH)₂] and graphite as starting material. Brucite decomposes into periclase (MgO) and H₂O at 3.6 GPa and 1050 °C while no periclase is formed after the decomposition of brucite at 6.2 GPa and 1150 °C, indicating that the solubility of the MgO component in H₂O greatly increases with increasing pressure. The conversion of graphite to diamond in aqueous fluid has been observed at 7.7 GPa and 1835 °C. Time-dependent X-ray diffraction profiles for this transformation have been successfully obtained. Received: 17 July 2001 / Accepted: 18 February 2002     

Southward extrusion of eclogite-bearing mafic–ultramafic bodies in the Sanbagawa belt, central Shikoku, Japan

Several mafic rock masses, which have experienced eclogite facies metamorphism, are distributed in flat-lying non-eclogitic schists in an intermediate structural level (thermal core) of the Sanbagawa belt. The largest, Iratsu mass, and an associated peridotite, the Higashi-Akaishi mass, extend E–W for about 8 km, and N–S for about 3 km, and are surrounded by pelitic, basic and quartz schists. The Iratsu mass consists of metabasites of gabbroic and basaltic origin, with intercalations of ultramafic rocks, felsic gneiss, quartz schist and metacarbonate. The Iratsu mass can be divided into two layers along a WNW-trending metacarbonate layer. The Higashi-Akaishi mass consists of peridotite with intercalations of garnet clinopyroxenite. It is situated beneath the western half of the Iratsu mass, and their mutual boundary dips gently or steeply to the N or NE. These masses underwent eclogite, and subsequent epidote-amphibolite facies metamorphism as has been reported elsewhere. The Iratsu–Higashi-Akaishi masses and the surrounding rocks underwent ductile deformation under epidote-amphibolite facies (or lower P–T) metamorphic conditions. Their foliation generally trends WNW and dips moderately to the NNE, and the mineral lineation mostly plunges to the N and NE. In non-eclogitic schists surrounding the Iratsu–Higashi-Akaishi masses, the foliation generally trends WNW and dips gently or steeply to the N or S and the mineral lineation mostly plunges to the NW, N and NE. Kinematic analysis of deformation structures in outcrops and oriented samples has been performed to determine shear senses. Consistent top-to-the-north, normal fault displacements are observed in peridotite layers of the Higashi-Akaishi mass and eclogite-bearing epidote amphibolite layers of the Iratsu mass. Top-to-the-northeast or top-to-the-northwest displacements also occur in non-eclogitic pelitic–quartz schists on the northern side of the Iratsu mass. In the structural bottom of the Iratsu–Higashi-Akaishi masses and to the south, reverse fault (top-to-the-south) movements are recognized in serpentinized peridotite and non-eclogitic schists. These observations provide the following constraints on the kinematics of the rock masses: (1) northward normal displacement of Iratsu relative to Higashi-Akaishi, (2) northward normal displacement of non-eclogitic schists on the north of the Iratsu mass and (3) southward thrusting of the Iratsu–Higashi-Akaishi masses upon non-eclogitic schists in the south. The exhumation process of the Iratsu–Higashi-Akaishi masses can be explained by their southward extrusion.     

Preliminary study of rain effects on radar scattering from water surfaces

Preliminary wave-tank results indicate that radar scatter from water surfaces is severely affected by rain at low but not at high wind speeds. The effect is governed by both the rain rate and droplet size. A simple experiment to check this phenomenon is described.     

Integrated colors of globular clusters

Integrated colors of M3, M5, M13, and M92 are calculated from the luminosity function, the color-magnitude diagram, and the two-color diagram to compare them with observed ones. The results show good agreements for M3, M13, and M92 and the discrepancy for M5. Possible causes for this discrepancy are discussed.To study the way in which integrated colors are affected by changes in the distribution of stars in the color-magnitude diagram, we calculate the integrated colors by taking into account changes in the distribution of horizontal branch stars and in the ratio of the number of horizontal branch stars to that of red giant branch stars. The result shows that (B-V) color varies within the range of about 0.1 mag with changes in the distribution of horizontal branch stars, implying that the cluster with a well-developed blue horizontal branch has bluer intrinsic integrated (B-V) color than that with yellow one. This tendency is compared with observation.     

Light-absorbing particles in snow and ice: Measurement and modeling of climatic and hydrological impact

Light absorbing particles(LAP, e.g., black carbon, brown carbon, and dust) influence water and energy budgets of the atmosphere and snowpack in multiple ways. In addition to their effects associated with atmospheric heating by absorption of solar radiation and interactions with clouds, LAP in snow on land and ice can reduce the surface reflectance(a.k.a., surface darkening), which is likely to accelerate the snow aging process and further reduces snow albedo and increases the speed of snowpack melt. LAP in snow and ice(LAPSI) has been identified as one of major forcings affecting climate change, e.g.in the fourth and fifth assessment reports of IPCC. However, the uncertainty level in quantifying this effect remains very high. In this review paper, we document various technical methods of measuring LAPSI and review the progress made in measuring the LAPSI in Arctic, Tibetan Plateau and other mid-latitude regions. We also report the progress in modeling the mass concentrations, albedo reduction, radiative forcing, and climatic and hydrological impact of LAPSI at global and regional scales. Finally we identify some research needs for reducing the uncertainties in the impact of LAPSI on global and regional climate and the hydrological cycle.     

Estimation and Projection of Non-Linear Relative Sea-Level Rise in the Seto Inland Sea,Japan

Future sea-level rise (SLR) in and around the Seto Inland Sea (SIS), Japan, is estimated in 2050 and 2100 using ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and long-term sea-level records. Ensemble empirical mode decomposition, an adaptive data analysis method, can separate sea-level records into intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) from high to low frequencies and a residual. The residual is considered a non-linear trend in the sea-level records. The mean SLR trend at Tokuyama in the SIS from EEMD is 3.00?mm?y^?1 from 1993 to 2010, which is slightly lower than the recent altimetry-based global rate of 3.3?±?0.4?mm?y^?1 during the same period. Uncertainty in SLR is estimated by considering interdecadal variations in the sea levels. The resulting SLR in 2050 and 2100 for Tokuyama is 0.19?±?0.06?m and 0.56?±?0.18?m, respectively. The stations along the coast of the Pacific Ocean display a greater and more rapid SLR in 2100 compared with other stations in the SIS. The SLR is caused not only by mass and volume changes in the sea water but also by other factors, such as local subsidence, tectonic motion, and river discharge. The non-linear trend of SLR, which is the residual from EEMD, is interpreted as the sum of the local factors that contribute to the sea-level budget.     

Observation of mixed Rossby-gravity waves in the Western equatorial Pacific

During the IOP (Intensive Observation Period) of TOGA/COARE (Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere/Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment) from December 1992 to February 1993, four Japanese moored ADCPs (Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers) measured vertical profiles of three-component velocities at the stations 2S (2°S, 156°E), 2N (2°N, 156°E), 154E (0°N, 154°E) and 147E (0°N, 147°E). Power spectra of the surface current showed a pronounced peak having a period of around 14 days for both the zonal and meridional velocities at the stations 2S and 2N near the equator, and for only the meridional velocity at the equator. This 14-day phenomenon is considered to be a kind of equatorial wave of the first baroclinic mode, from a comparison of the result of the vertical mode analysis and the vertical distribution of the standard deviation of band-pass filtered velocity fluctuations. A dispersion relationship obtained from the horizontal mode analysis of this wave confirmed that the 14-day phenomenon is a mixed Rossby-gravity wave with the westward propagating phase speed and eastward propagating group velocity. From the cross-spectral analysis of velocity data, the average phase speed and wavelength of the wave were estimated as 3.64 m s⁻¹ and 3939 km, respectively, for station pair 2S∼147E. These values were in good agreement with the average phase speed and wavelength of 3.58 m s⁻¹ and 3836 km estimated from the dispersion curve and the observed period. A northerly wind burst blew over all the mooring sites during the middle of the observation period. The mixed Rossby-gravity wave, which is anti-symmetric for the zonal velocity about the equator, is likely to be forced by this northerly wind burst crossing the equator. Generation of the oceanic mixed Rossby-gravity wave of the first baroclinic mode is discussed in association with the atmospheric Rossby wave having the same period.